*here's the top 25 list of our most essential albums from 2023*
#indierock #britpop #madchester #shoegaze #dreampop
1.
Oceans [Australia/Melbourne] - Dreamers In Dark Cities
(Shelflife Records)
Genre : Indie Rock / Shoegaze / Dreampop
*shoegaze album of the year !
on their debut full length, the australian band create atmospheric songs full of longing with a discernment for brilliant melodies.
all killer, no filler !
https://oceansmusicaus.bandcamp.com/album/dreamers-in-dark-cities
https://open.spotify.com/album/5JuQbeRvW1W3bIPBDC3d1t
2.
Orbital [England/Kent] - Optical Delusion(London Records)
Genre: Electronica, Ambient, Acid House, Techno
*tenth studio album by the Hartnoll brothers. from the legendary british electronica duo !
https://orbitalofficial.bandcamp.com/album/optical-delusion
https://open.spotify.com/album/7Cr0lKLXsJK8OvAo0rVPdj
3.
Sunnbrella [England/London] - Heartworn
(Peekaboo Luv)
Genre: Indie Rock / Dreampop / Shoegaze
*beautiful dreamy shoe-rave-pop debut album from prague-born and london-based musician David Zbirka.
https://sunnbrella.bandcamp.com/album/heartworn
https://open.spotify.com/album/3LzV9GuJdSSeqL029oOuq5
4.
Art School Girlfriend [Wales/Wrexham] - Soft Landing
(Fiction Records)
Genre: Alternative-/Sophisti Pop / Electronica
*second full length from Art School Girlfriend, the welsh-born artist Polly Mackey. soft melodies, melancholic beats and lush vocals - a fine album you'd have hoped Everything But The Girls' comeback album should had sounded ...
https://open.spotify.com/album/6JafE12iZoyCQQkSN8muem
5.
Emma Anderson [England/London] - Pearlies
(Sonic Cathedral)
Genre: Indie-/Dreampop / Shoegaze / Electronica
*brilliant debut solo album by Emma Anderson, singer and guitarist in legendary 90s uk shoegaze outfit Lush.
shimmering melodies nestled in pure and harmonic dreampop innocence - the spirit lives on ...
https://emmaanderson.bandcamp.com/album/pearlies
https://open.spotify.com/album/45kExoTy2BTCKr3XjNDo1T
6.
bdrmm [England/Hull] - I Don't Know(Rock Action)
Genre: Indie Rock / Shoegaze / Electronica
*terrific sophomore album from hull's finest post-shoegazers which upgrated the band into new horizons via electronic and ambient elements adding to their swirling, dreamy and gazy sound.
https://bdrmm.bandcamp.com/album/i-dont-know
https://open.spotify.com/album/2cNtBpejkWMdxrN94XuR8z
7.
Chappaqua Wrestling [England/Manchester] - Plus Ultra
(EMI)
Genre: Indie Rock / Brit Rock-/Pop
*massive debut album from these manchester lads, inspired from grunge, britpop and shoegaze. definitely on the cover of nme and melody maker if it were 1995 ...
https://open.spotify.com/album/0TcFdYk0SYPkQQ5rIjeArv
8.
Nabihah Iqbal [England/London] - Dreamer
(Ninja Tune)
Genre: Electronica / Shoegaze / Dreampop / Post Punk
*impressive meditative shoegazy / wavey spoken-word electronica album by british pakistani multi-hyphernate musician Nabihah Iqbal.
https://nabihahiqbal.bandcamp.com/album/dreamer
https://open.spotify.com/album/1Jr7mHRUgVIbdnbC6LI07M
9.
Senses [England/Coventry] - Little Pictures Without Sound
(42 Records)
Genre: Indie Rock / Britpop/-rock / Psychedelia
*fresh nineties-sounding melodic and anthemic neo britpop-/rock debut album from coventry's Senses - conjure a smile on your face on repeated listening !
https://open.spotify.com/album/1BZAuHG0vg1FLiYLyojDek
https://lnk.to/SENSESCOV
10.
James Atkin (EMF) [England/Gloucestershire] - Circadian Rhythms
(ATK Records)
Genre: Alternative Dance / Electro Pop / Acid House
*class new sixth solo album from James Atkin, singer in legendary 90s uk indie dance / alternative rock band EMF - expect blissed out electro pop with james' unique voice and his
fine feeling for excellent melodies.
https://jamesatkinmusic.bandcamp.com/album/circadian-rhythms
https://open.spotify.com/album/2JPwzWAlpoDiy4jYFM9rDW
11.
Isolated Gate [Australia via Japan] - Universe In Reverse(Darla Records)
Genre: Experimental Pop / Shoegaze / Ambient / Electronica /
Pale Saints
https://isolatedgate.bandcamp.com/album/universe-in-reverse
https://open.spotify.com/album/3fywOBALNmdfLoLMfvtguK
12.
Afflecks Palace [England/Manchester] - The Only Light In This Tunnel Is The Oncoming Train
(Spirit Of Spike Island Records)
Genre: Indie Rock / Britpop-/rock / Madchester / Psychedelia
https://open.spotify.com/album/1o1ZRTKvkoo8WxpoJLNnKM
13.
Wings Of Desire [England/London] - Life Is Infinite
(WMD Records)
Genre: Indie Rock / Brit Rock / Psychedelia
https://wingsofdesire.bandcamp.com/album/life-is-infinite
https://open.spotify.com/album/3bu72kr0HlzSAAEIXX8kmq
14.
Slowdive [England/London] - Everything Is Alive
(Dead Oceans)
Genre : Shoegaze / Dreampop
https://slowdive.bandcamp.com/album/everything-is-alive
https://open.spotify.com/album/2jSmcj39eQiU76EbMGuxS0
15.
Memorials [England/Brighton] - Music For Film: Women Against The Bomb
(The state51 conspiracy Ltd)
Genre: Indie-/Alternative Pop / New Wave /
Psychedelia
https://memorialsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-film-women-against-the-bomb
https://open.spotify.com/album/3h5hrCfmIHXQcxZYUnfE85
16.
James Holden [England/London] - Imagine This Is A High Dimensional Space Of All Possibilities
(Border Community Recordings Ltd)
Genre: IDM, Ambient, Vintage Rave
https://jamesholden.bandcamp.com/album/imagine-this-is-a-high-dimensional-space-of-all-possibilities
https://open.spotify.com/album/4c04wXoadgnqqrxeDUCnFP
17.
(Fire Records)
Genre: Indie-/Alternative Pop / New Wave
https://basjan.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-the-swamp
https://open.spotify.com/album/5NgQ4jeMerulIIvZyTsW8A
18.
Bleach Lab [England/London] - Lost in a Rush of Emptiness
( Nettwerk)
Genre: Indie-/Dreampop
https://bleachlab.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-a-rush-of-emptiness
https://open.spotify.com/album/3EvUVXwaGNkeqinGICcGQU
19.
The Goa Express [England/Manchester] - The Goa Express
(Communion Records)
Genre: Indie Rock / Britpop-/rock
https://open.spotify.com/album/1PmtNSFs3k1KcKUdR6LLZx
https://www.thegoaexpress.com/products/the-goa-express-vinyl-lp
20.
The Embassy [Sweden/Stockholm] - E-Numbers
(Dream On Music)
Genre: Indie Rock-/Pop / Madchester / Balearic / Electronica
https://embarrassing.bandcamp.com/album/e-numbers
https://open.spotify.com/album/6uBvLAUfc7PiEE6NPZEavh
21.
Roody Woomble (Idlewild) [Scotland/Edingburgh] -
Almost Nothing
(Emubands Ltd)
Genre: Indie / Electropop
https://roddywoomble.bandcamp.com/album/almost-nothing
https://open.spotify.com/album/1uKyRJLbDOelD5ldOecw2l
22.
Acopia [Australia/Melbourne] - Acopia
(Symphonic Distribution)
Genre: Indie / Alternative Pop / Trip Hop / Dreampop
https://acopia.bandcamp.com/album/acopia
https://open.spotify.com/album/4GPuQErhhqHW8xVgOVyhjb
23.
Drop Nineteens [USA/Boston] - Hard Light
(Warf Cat Records)
Genre: Indie Rock, Shoegaze
https://dropnineteens.bandcamp.com/album/hard-light
https://open.spotify.com/album/3GzUPre1YjcoEjvV3cv6kB
24.
Blur [England/London] - The Ballad Of Darren (Deluxe)
(Parlophone Records Ltd)
Genre: Indie Rock / Britpop
https://open.spotify.com/album/6wIkkwi1ZFrtXD9z5hON25
25.
Chapterhouse [England/Reading] - Chronology
*Demos 1994-1995*
(Cherry Red Records)
Genre: Indie Rock / Shoegaze